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Thursday, February 05, 2009
Upcoming Paladin Changes in 3.1
Blessing of Kings – this spell is now a base ability trainable by all paladins.
What a long road we've been on to get to this point. Ah well, no more whining about Kings. I wonder what the new Tier 1 talent talent will be.
Exorcism – this spell now causes damage to all types of enemy targets. However, it always critical strikes undead or demon targets. This change should make sure paladin damage doesn't drop when going from Naxxramas to later tiers of content.
Very interesting. A nice buff for Holy soloing, and normalizes Retribution damage across all enemy types. The only concern I have is that this does add to PvP burst, as Exorcism is now usable on players. CS, Judge, DS, Exorcism, CS is now a complete string of attacks with no breaks in between.
Shield of the Templar now causes your Avenger's Shield and Shield of the Righteousness to silence targets for 3 sec. The old damage bonus of this talent has been folded into Holy Shield, Avenger's Shield, and Shield of the Righteousness.
Shield of the Templar becomes a PvP talent mainly. Frees up some points for PvE builds. A 3 second silence every 6 seconds on the highest damage ability sounds a little bit crazy though. I expect this to get nerfed once it's on the PTR.
Ardent Defender, Improved Hammer of Justice, One-Handed Weapon Specialization and more have had their ranks reduced.
Thinning out the Protection tree heavily. The real question is whether these talents will provide the same effect for fewer talent points, or will simply provide a smaller effect. I can almost guarantee you that Imp Hammer of Justice will be reduced to -10 seconds for 1 talent point and become the 11-point Protection talent. It's a solid nerf to Ret PvP, and Ghostcrawler will probably be happy to see us shut up about missing that 11-pointer.
Now, what will happen with Ardent Defender and One-Handed Weapon Specialization is more nebulous. Either way, Protection just got a lot more points to put in the secondary trees.
Guarded by the Light – no longer reduces the mana cost of shield spells, but now has a 50/100% chance to refresh Divine Plea duration.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Shield of Righteousness is the spell which will refresh Divine Plea. It's actually pretty elegant, creating a mana-return mechanic around ShR that the Protection paladin should be able to keep up throughout the fight.
Judgements of the Just – now also reduces the cooldown of Hammer of Justice by 10/20 seconds and increases the duration of the Seal of Justice stun effect by 0.5/1 second.
This is the reason I predict Imp HoJ is the 11-pointer. This talent would mean that Protection still gets 30s HoJ, but Retribution does not.
I'm not entirely sure why Protection PvP is being pushed, but I, for one, welcome our new Protection overlords.
22 comments:
*cough* 2 second interrupt on 15 second cooldown *cough*.
Anyway, I think one of Blizzard's stated intentions was that every spec should have some marginal PvP viability for those that wanted to go out and have fun with it. Prot Paladins were, relative to other tanking specs, pretty weak in this field and this change elivates them up to 'nuisance that needs to be dealt with' status. Still, the level of control being afforded to them is pretty high, especially against casters.
Yay to no announced nerfs! They're probably coming, but we've got a few weeks yet before the madness truly begins.I think the slimming down of the prot tree is definitely a welcome change, and the main benefit of this patch (beyond baseline kings).
That being said, ret and prot (in this preannounced state) can almost certainly look forward to another round of PvP-induced hotnerfs. With exorcism, this is going to give way to another round of QQ about ret burst damage, which Blizzard hasn't exactly managed to address properly so far.There was a post made yesterday by Kalgan which went largely unreported:
"I find the rating system to be acceptable. However, I feel the measure of 'skill' is much more dependent on the current state of BurstVP. Until that is remedied, the system wont work very effectively, as Comps should not be a measure of skill.
Side bar, Kalgan. You hotfixed Explosive shot, but hunters were probably last in the group of "too much PVP burst". Allowing the "big 4" to continue into 3.1 (which is months away) will drive many people away from PVP. Changes need to be made now, not in several months.
There will be changes made before 3.1. "
Blizzard seem to have something significant in mind to address burst damage for all classes. It's also worth noting that the SK-100, a resource which tracks the top 100 arena teams worldwide, features only 2 Ret Paladins. The vast majority of Paladin representation is via the 49/0/22 Holy build, and other class DPS specs are far more common.
If the Exorcism Glyph remains in the game as-is Ret (and Prot, and Holy) will be gaining greatly increased utility and control. However I'm of the opinion that if Blizzard follow through on the idea of globally nerfing burst Ret will need every bit of the additional control to remain PvP viable.I think the big reason for the change to Exorcism is because they couldn't find a way otherwise to make the glyph actually work on non-demon/undead targets. Though the also explained reason is fine as well.
While you can argue that the change to Shield of the Templar is for PvP, I think that you should still consider that having those spells interrupt is a -huge- benefit to Prot PvE. You can now Avenger Shield a distant caster to interrupt their spell and drag them to you, and you can also help reduce incoming damage by Shield Slamming a caster in your face.- Anonymous5:15 AM, February 06, 2009
I think these changes strongly lead to BoSanct getting removed.
ReplyDelete Honors'
I do agree with you that the additional damage being allocated to ShoRighteousness baseline is pretty nice for Holy. I'd have to say that Exorcism being applicable to all mob types is a much larger fillip for the spec's DPS. We still won't be talking raid-viable DPS, but they may scare the odd player in PvP with the burst damage output.- Anonymous8:44 AM, February 06, 2009
I knew Paladins were FOTM, but with the latest buffs to Ret... Unless you get some nerfs -- for sure Paladins will return as FOTM. It's really bad when I consider rolling a Paladin.
ReplyDelete @Rohan, as always, great interpration on the news. I for one am very much looking forward to being able to drop some more talent points into other items - I find I never have 'enough' points to spend!
Also, getting mana back will be great. Great! I've had folks tell me to just pull more mobs, but you know what, sometimes, there simply are not any other mobs to pull without having to kite the damn things half way across Azeroth!
It might even cut down a lot on prot questing delays be removing a lot of the drinking when we are forced into fighting one mob at a time due to spawn distances.- Anonymous1:00 PM, February 06, 2009
I think the Shield of the Templar changes may get nerfed down to an interrupt if they can't get the exorcism glyph to function. Or maybe they want protection paladins to be able to shut down casters. I'm not holding my breath.
I hope they rename exorcism, as it is no longer quite as fitting when it works on everything. Maybe they'll decide to use your "Rebuke" for this one. < /rant >
Prot being op in pvp? hardly but still go fight a prot warrior. the entire fight you will be stunned or silenced. if your melee most attacked will be dodge parried or blocked. if your a caster you have to worry about spell reflect when ever you actually get a spell off.
with exorcism being usable against all types i dom't see this being unbalanced in pvp. it has longer cool down then other attacks. when stam and resillience get higher and fights get longer you will have to ask your self "do i want to use my exorcism now for the extra dmg or later to interupt a heal?"
still this is interesting. got a hunter kiting you and can't seem to catch up? turn on seal of justice and exorcise him. if seal of justice can proc off exorcism and it procs you got a ranged stun.
blessing of sanctuary isn't going anywhere. the rage/runic power returns are wonderfull.
i don't think 30 second hammers of justice are going any where also. it would bea huge nerf to ret pvp and those that still pvp as holy/prot instead of holy/ret.
i don't like the idea of divine plea having a -50% healing debuff. shamans/druids/priests don't suffer any penalties to use their mana regen cool down. though theirs are much more powerful but with longer cool downs.
you can't nerf illumination any more either because it will turn paladins away from spell crit which the whole tree is still based around.
its season 1 all over really. holy paladins in the basic level of pve raid gear aren't running out of mana in the short pvp fights. Spiritual attunement is getting villified because if another healer heals a holy pally that holy pally gets more mana to heal with.
-50% healing when using divine plea in a raid? lol hey raid i can't do any healing for a while i need to regen.
i can see guilds raiding icecrown and just bring 2 paladins most like prot and a ret just to have kings and might/wisdom. because holy paladins won't be able to compete again.
< /rant >I'm pretty sure you're wrong about the silence being strong in PvP because it will be subject to diminishing returns. You DO have a point about ret burst.
Prot paladins are the weakest of the weak in PvP (and by PvP I mean Areans, because Blizz could care less about BG balance) now that the double ShoR bug is fixed.
A tankadin can't effectively deal with casters. This isn't balanced, it's not like a DK or Druid tank can't deal with melee mobs. The two HUGE holes in the Tankadin arsenal, when compared to other tank classes, is lack of caster control (both trash and boss-unless it's UD) and inability to generate resource in solo/OT role/PvP -other tanks get resource from either doing damage, or both dealing and taking damage.
The silence + 10-sec HoJ interrupt + (possible) 15-sec exorcism interrupt really rounds them out (Not quite on par to the warrior shield bash/spell reflection/gag order/shockwave combo of doom - but certainly good). You can't have the arguably lowest HP tank (effective health on magic damage) be the only one unable to deal with trash mobs who can cast spells that hit for 20K+. This is needed fro Bliz to future proof their instances and encounters.
The changed to allow DP to keep rolling addresses the resource issue very well.Personally, as a strictly PvE prot Pally, I thing the Shield of the Templar buff is great. The dungeon design in Northrend just doesn't lend itself to LoS pulls. Too often I find myself trying to hide behind something rediculous like a tiny pillar or chair to entice a caster to come after me. Adding a silence on Captain America lets me just pull, and the casters come to me.
I could see SotR being taken off this, or converted to a true interupt rather than a 3 second silence. I'd actually prefer the second option.
However, seeing as Silence is being put on DR, the buff isn't near as strong in PvP as people think it is now."I could see SotR being taken off this, or converted to a true interupt rather than a 3 second silence. I'd actually prefer the second option."
This thinking makes sense if ShoR was Shield Bash. But for Prot Paladins, ShoR is like some Shield Slam/Heroic Devastate combo.
ShoR is the main single target threat spell for Prot Paladins. Because of this, it is ALWAYS on CD. (plus, giving us a high threat, single button, 6 sec interrupt -think bosses- might be a little over the top) Forcing Prot Paladins to wait to use ShoR for a spell cast would be counter to what ShoR does. The silence makes sense as it's more 'fire and forget' which is what ShoR and Heroic Strike/Devastate are about.
Also, keep in mind that all of these Paladin abilities are on the GCD and, in PvE, all of our GCDs are taken up. So any on-demand ability we use is at the expense of threat somewhere else.
I much more like the idea of a 10 or 15 sec HoJ as the interrupt. Possibly that combined with a 15 sec Exorcism interrupt allows for some decent caster utility. Again, this is nowhere near where other tanking classes are for caster utility (except for maybe Druids).
I really expect these changes to stick in one form or another, and more caters mobs that CANNOT be allowed to cast their main spell be added. (See Heroic OK trash, I think Paladins are the only ones who have trouble with certain casters. But the Exorcism glyph helps in that instance)- Anonymous11:04 PM, February 09, 2009
Sorry, but your thinking about Shield of the Templar is wrong: it will be even after 3.1 also a PvE-Talent, because of the 3% damage reduction of SotT. They only said that the damage from SotT will enrolled in the Talent itself, but nothing about the damage Reduction. And yes, they would mention it if they remove it.


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INSTITUTE INDEX: The South's widening war on abortion rights
Date on which North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed into law a bill that requires the state's abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers, despite a campaign promise that he would not sign any legislation that further restricts abortion: 7/30/2013
Additional cost to build a clinic that meets ambulatory surgical center standards: $1 million
Number of bodyguards that accompanied McCrory the following day when he left the executive mansion and stepped into the street to deliver cookies to abortion rights advocates protesting outside, who returned them with a note that said, "We want women's health care, not cookies": 4
Number of days after the cookie incident that the McCrory administration revoked the license of the Femcare abortion clinic in Asheville after reportedly finding problems with equipment, maintenance, and personnel: 1
Besides the Femcare facility, whose owner says she intends to fix the problems and reopen soon, number of North Carolina's other 15 abortion clinics that currently meet the ambulatory surgical center standards: 0
Over the past three months, total number of abortion clinics whose operations North Carolina regulators have suspended for various violations: 3
Total number suspended over the previous 14 years: 2
Number of abortion clinics still operating in Mississippi following the passage of laws that impose strict regulations on providers: 1
Date on which the state's lone abortion clinic won a federal court stay blocking enforcement of a 2012 law that would have closed it by requiring providers to have hospital admitting privileges: 4/15/2013
Month in which the Arkansas legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Mike Beebe (D) to ban abortions occurring more than 12 weeks after a woman's last menstrual period: 3/2013
Number of months later that a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the Arkansas law: 2
Date on which Texas state Sen. Eddie Lucio, a Democrat, filed a bill that would require women seeking an abortion in the state to first take a course on adoption: 7/29/2013
Date on which Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed into law a bill that prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and imposes new regulations that may shut down most of the state's abortion providers: 7/18/2013
Date on which the U.S. House passed a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, a measure now being advanced in the U.S. Senate by Republican leaders including Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas: 6/18/2013
Year in which the first 20-week abortion ban, which is based on a disputed theory of fetal pain, was adopted by a state legislature: 2010
Number of states that have since enacted such bans, which have become a major tactic of the anti-abortion movement: 12
In the three states where the 20-week abortion bans have been legally challenged, number where they have been blocked by the courts: 3
Weeks of pregnancy at which a fetus is deemed viable, which is the current cutoff for banning abortion under established constitutional law: 24
Aside from abortion, number of other winning social issues some conservatives see as having left in their political arsenal: 0
Since the mid-1990s, percentage points by which opposition to abortion rights has increased in the U.S. South Central region including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas: 12
Percent of adults in the region who say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases: 52
Percentage-point difference in support for legal abortion between the South Central region and New England, where abortion rights have broad backing: 35
(Click on figure to go to source.)
Sue Sturgis
Sue is the editorial director of Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies.

subset: commoncrawl


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U.S. Federal and State Cases, Codes, and Articles
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Current as of January 01, 2020 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
(a) Notice and review of determination. -- A determination of the commissioner or the attorney general to not include or to remove from the directory a brand family or tobacco product manufacturer is subject to review in the manner prescribed by article ten-a, chapter eleven of this code, by filing a petition for review with the office of tax appeals within thirty days of receipt of the commissioner's written determination to not include or to remove the brand family or tobacco product manufacturer from the directory. A determination not to list in, or to remove from, the directory any brand family or tobacco product manufacturer shall not be stayed during the pendency of appeal procedure.
(b) Applicants for business registration certificate. -- No person shall be issued a business registration certificate under article twelve, chapter eleven of this code or granted a renewal of its business registration certificate to act as a distributor or stamping agent unless the person has certified in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the person will comply fully with this article.
(c) Promulgation of rules. -- The commissioner and the attorney general may separately promulgate any procedural, interpretive and legislative rules in the manner provided in article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, each considers necessary to effect the purposes of this article.
(d) Recovery of costs and fees by attorney general. -- In any action brought by the state to enforce this article, the state is entitled to recover the costs of investigation, expert witness fees, costs of the action and reasonable attorney fees.
(e) Disgorgement of profits for violations of this article. -- If a court determines that a person has violated this article, the court shall order any profits, gain, gross receipts or other benefit from the violation to be disgorged and paid to the state treasurer for deposit in the "tobacco control special fund", which is created in the state treasury. Expenditures from the fund are to be made in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a of this code. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the remedies or penalties provided by this article are cumulative to each other and to the remedies or penalties available under all other laws of this state.
(f) Construction and severability.
(A) If a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the provisions of this article and of article nine-b of this chapter conflict and cannot be harmonized, then the provisions of article nine-b control.
(B) If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article causes article nine-b of this chapter to no longer constitute a qualifying or model statute, as those terms are defined in the master settlement agreement, then that portion of this article is not valid.
(C) If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid, unlawful or unconstitutional, that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this article or any part thereof.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - West Virginia Code Chapter 16. Public Health § 16-9D-9. Miscellaneous provisions - last updated January 01, 2020 | https://codes.findlaw.com/wv/chapter-16-public-health/wv-code-sect-16-9d-9/
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Born from Leica's 20-year commitment to continuous laser rangefinding innovation, the Rangemaster CRF 1600-B compact laser rangefinder boasts a unique integrated ballistics system that features three modes of application, 12 ballistic curves and three different zeroing ranges to deliver more accurate ballistics information than ever before. The new standards-setting Leica CRF 1600-B also features intuitive, easy-to-use controls.
At the heart of the CRF 1600-B is the innovative ABC™ (Advanced Ballistic Compensation) system, a high-precision integrated ballistics calculator that combines stored data with analysis of current ballistics parameters, and in a split second, delivers precise details of the required compensation for a point of impact (POI). The ABC™ system processes current ballistics parameters, including not only the measured distance, but also the incline, temperature and absolute air pressure to calculate projectile trajectory. The ABC™ ballistic system addresses the shooter's needs with one program and delivers the relevant details with a simple push of a button.
For hunters who use classic reticles in their riflescopes, the Leica Rangemaster CRF 1600-B displays the hold-over value in centimeters or inches, in addition to the measured distance. For hunters using a reticle or turret, in which each graduation represents a specific distance, the read-out provides information on the horizontal distance, again factoring in the angle, temperature and absolute air pressure. Hunters using a MOA or mil graduated turret to dial for correction can also display the number of clicks required to properly adjust the POI. In this way, the CRF 1600-B can be perfectly adapted to deliver optimum results in every shooting situation, no matter the firearm and ammunition used.
Class-leading Leica optics technology enables shooters to clearly and vividly assess potential targets over long distances, and the large field of view facilitates rapid targed acquisition. The 7x magnification guarantees superb performance, even in low-light conditions. The CRF 1600-B measures distances from 10.9 yards to approximately 1,600 yards with complete precision in less than .9 seconds. The LED display features automatic brightness control for optimum visibility in all lighting conditions.
Weighing only 8.1 oz, the ergonomic and compact CRF 1600-B fits comfortably in either hand and its carbon-reinforced housing and magnesium chassis ensure that it will stand up to whatever the hunter or Mother Nature dishes out. The hydrophobic AquaDura® lens coating provides additional protection against dirt and water.
Built-in diopter compensation and a special rubber eyecup make the Rangemaster ideal for those with glasses.
The Leica Rangemaster CRF 1600-B will be available from authorized Leica dealers beginning June 2012.
LEICA RANGEMASTER CRF 1600-B Technical data
Package includes:
Cordura case, lanyard and battery
Magnification: 7×Lens diameter: 24 mm
Exit pupil: 3.4 mmField of view at 1,000 yds: 377 ft
Diopter compensation: +/- 3.5 dpt.
Distance measurement range: 10.9 yards to approx. 1,600 yards
Measuring function: scan mode
Measuring accuracy: +/- 1.1 yards to 400 yards+/- 2.2 yards to 800 yards+/- 0.5% over 800 yards
Ballistic system: yes, equivalent horizontal distance, point-of-impact correction, click/MOA
AdjustmentTemperature display: yes
Absolute air pressure display: yes
Angle of Incline display: yes
Display : LED display with 4-characters and ambient-light-controlled brightness
Eyecup: rubber foldout eyecup
Lens coating: AquaDura® coating on external lens
Waterproof: waterproof to 3.2 ftBody: carbon-reinforced plastic
Chassis: magnesiumDimensions (LxHxD): 1 5/8 x 3 x 1 1/4 inches approximate
Weight: approx. 8.1oz incl. battery
Laser: Eye-safe, invisible-light laser compliant with EN and FDA Class 1
Alternative meter/yard setting: yes
Power supply: 1× 3 V / CR2 lithium button cell
Battery life: approx. 3,000 measurements at 68 degrees F
For more information, check out www.leica-sportoptics.com. You can also connect with Leica Sport Optics through its Facebook hunting page at facebook.com/LeicaHunting.


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CNN Anchors Slam 'Murderous' NRA During Press Conference
CNN reporters castigated the NRA on Twitter during the organization's
Friday press conference. Piers Morgan went so far as to blame future
mass school shootings on the organization.
"Coming to a town near you, courtesy of the #NRA - Gunfights At The U.S. School Corral," Morgan tweeted. He also ripped their agenda as "murderous."
"This is your moment, America: The #NRA has 4 million members, your population is 311 million. Don't stand for this murderous crap any more," tweeted Morgan.
CNN's Ali Velshi didn't shy away from sniping at the NRA:
"NRA says 26 lives might have been saved if there had been armed guards at Sandy Hook School #Ignoretheproblem"
"In one of the more amazing press conferences I've ever seen, Wayne LaPierre, exec VP of the NRA, says video games are the problem"
Velshi re-tweeted Dawn Walton of Canada's The Globe and Mail, who sneered "Going to be tough for most journos to remain objective reporting on the NRA soln to gun violence since it's sorta lunacy".
And CNN helped relay Democratic talking points, too. Velshi and colleague Brooke Baldwin both re-tweeted this from Senator-elect Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.):
"Walking out of another funeral and was handed the NRA transcript. The most revolting, tone deaf statement I've ever seen."
Piers Morgan re-tweeted Obama adviser David Axelrod:
"LaPierre's rant was truly astonishing. At a moment that demanded reflection, he sprayed rhetorical shots around the room."


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Minerals of a planet's surface, and molecules of an atmosphere emit light of various wavelengths. The wavelengths of light which minerals or molecules emit is characteristic of each individual mineral or molecule, and is called that mineral or molecule's spectra. Thus the spectra of a mineral or molecule is like a human fingerprint, and can be used to identify it.When studying the planets, scientists have designed instruments which can collect separate wavelengths of light. The light received from a planet is separated by means of a mirror or several mirrors, into separate wavelengths. Instruments such as these help scientists determine what a planet is made out of. Such an instrument is called a spectrometer.
The image to the left of the Earth's moon was made by examining the moon through different wavelengths of light, then recombining them into one picture. Some minerals emit more light in the blue than the red, and so on. These minerals stand out in the picture. The colors of the picture are enhanced to better show the contrast. Pink is very old, pulverized terrain, oranges and blues are lunar lava flows composed of granite-like rock, light blue are mineral-rich deposits associated with meteorite impacts.


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I was sent an email invitation to try the new Bing this morning. My default search engine is Google, but I am willing to try something different if it is better. So I clicked on the Try the new Bing. First in order to get the full Bing experience you have to sign in either by using your Windows Live or your Xbox Rewards account and you also have to connect Facebook. I signed in with my Windows Live account and connected Facebook. Now when I search for something using Bing on the left hand side of the window is a grey tab which shows if any of my friends on Facebook have posted anything on the subject on Facebook. It will only show likes, post and photos that they posted publicly. You can also send a question to your friends on Facebook from the same tab.
To be honest the new Bing is a little disappointing, since it only connects to Facebook directly. If you do a search and your friends don't use Facebook than none of their suggestions show up. There is a limited connection to Twitter, but not surprising there is no connection to Google Plus If you do a general search for movies, then you get two sections Friends who might Know and People who Know. Under People who Know you see tweets from people like Roger Ebert on the subject. So far the subject movies is the only search that has brought up People Who Know section. I hope that is just a temporary situation, because I am more interested in what Roger Ebert thinks about a specific movie rather than what he thinks of movies in general. This would be true of any subject and expert. Most other searches I tried have been fairly weak on the social connections. Part of the problem I will admit is I don't have a lot of connections on Facebook, however based on my reading I am not the only one that ran into this problem.
The new Bing does have somethings going for it, first the social interaction is to the side and it doesn't interfere with normal search. Second you can close or open the search column by hitting the arrow on the top right side. I suspect despite these good points, I will continue using Google as my main search engine.


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May 2010
Russell Gould, Chairman, Board of Regents
Sherry L. Lansing, Vice Chair, Board of Regents
Mark G. Yudof, President of the University
Recently, there have been two bills put forward for a vote before student organizations within the University of California that call on the University to divest from companies doing business with Israel. Understandably, these bills have received considerable attention from the public and the media.
The overarching question of the University of California divesting from any company is a complex one and any action considered must conform to State and federal laws, as well as to the University's fiduciary responsibilities as a public entity to protect the security of its pension and endowment funds. In 2005, the Regents stated that a policy of divestment from a foreign government shall be adopted by the University only when the United States government declares that a foreign regime is committing acts of genocide. It was also noted at the time that divestment is a serious decision that should be rarely pursued.
We share The Regents' belief that divestment needs to be undertaken with caution. We firmly believe that if there is to be any discussion of divestment from a business or country, it must be robust and fair-minded. We must take great care that no one organization or country is held to a different standard than any other. In the current resolutions voted on by the UC student organizations, the State of Israel and companies doing business with Israel have been the sole focus. This isolation of Israel among all countries of the world greatly disturbs us and is of grave concern to members of the Jewish community.
We fully support the Board of Regents in its policy to divest from a foreign government or companies doing business with a foreign government only when the United States government declares that a foreign regime is committing acts of genocide. The U.S. has not made any declaration regarding the State of Israel and, therefore, we will not bring a recommendation before the Board to divest from companies doing business with the State of Israel.


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subscribe to our ONLINE EDITION!
"You don't think of them being there," said Richard Anderson, Kenmare, two days after hitting a moose on U.S. Highway 83 north of Glenburn. "You might see one once in a while off in the distance. Deer, sure, but [a moose] was the last thing on my mind."
10/07/09 (Wed)
"You don't think of them being there," said Richard Anderson, Kenmare, two days after hitting a moose on U.S. Highway 83 north of Glenburn. "You might see one once in a while off in the distance. Deer, sure, but [a moose] was the last thing on my mind."
Richard's wife Marilyn was a passenger in the couple's Buick at the time of the accident. The evening encounter totaled the car.
"It was about 9 pm and so dang dark out," said Richard, describing the sky as cloudy, which didn't help with the visibility. He said the young bull was standing on the center line on the highway, and he didn't catch a glimpse of it until his car lights reflected off the animal's light brown nose.
"All you could see was a big old black lump," he said. "I hollered, 'Moose!' and hit the brakes. He just kept getting bigger and bigger. It was just like slow motion."
Richard can't remember the actual impact of the collision. "For a second or two, it's like you're blank," he said. "Then I realized I was headed toward the ditch and had my foot on the brake."
The moose grazed the bumper of the
The impact stopped the car and killed the bull, which landed in the ditch. "I felt a little pressure on my head," said Richard. "The glass was just shattered, like sand almost. We had it on our backs. I had it in my clothes and down in my shoes. Both of us were wearing glasses, and that probably saved our eyes."
The driver directly behind the Andersons, Rodney Conway from Westhope, stopped to help the couple. "He said it looked like someone dumped a whole bucket of litter on us," Richard recalled. "When I stopped and looked back, there was a hundred feet of glass all over the road."
He added that Marilyn had adjusted her seat to move back, in preparation for a nap on the way home. Observing the way the moose's body crumpled the windshield frame on the passenger side, he believed her actions may have saved her life or at least prevented more serious harm.
In fact, the next day when Richard looked over his car, he noticed an undisturbed pile of moose fur on the floor, where it would have landed between Marilyn's feet. "We got more worried about it a day and a half later when we looked at the pictures!" he said.
He delivered the animal to Gartner's Jack & Jill in Kenmare for processing. Owner Arlen Gartner estimated the young bull weighed between 900 and 1000 pounds. "He was awful long," said Richard.
He emphasized the element of surprise at seeing the moose on such a busy highway and cautioned other drivers to be prepared on the roads this fall. "You always think you can get out of the way," he said. "But they're so big, and you can't see nothing on either side of them."


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An elderly married couple who were childhood sweethearts and had settled down in their old neighborhood, are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They walk down the street to their old school. There, they hold hands as they find the old desk they'd shared and where he had carved, "I love you, Sally." On their way back home, an armored car drives by and a bag of money falls out of the armored car practically at their feet. Sally quickly picks it up, but they don't know what to do with it so they take it home.
There, she counts the money, and it's fifty thousand dollars. The husband says, "We've got to give it back."
She says, "Finders keepers." And she puts the money back in the bag and hides it up in their attic.
The next day, two FBI men are going door-to-door in the neighborhood looking for the money and show up at their home. They say, "Pardon me, but did either of you find any money that fell out of an armored car yesterday?"
She says, "No."
The husband says, "She's lying. She hid it up in the attic."
She says, "Don't believe him, he's getting senile."
But the agents sit the man down and begin to question him. One says, "Tell us the story from the beginning."
The old man says, "Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday..."
The FBI guy looks at his partner and says, "Let's get out of here."


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Sautéed Okra & Garlic ♥
And okra is quick-quick to cook -- adding this recipe to my growing collection of quick vegetable recipes.
And what about the, um, slime factor? Banish the thought! When okra are small and completely fresh - which means they need cooking within a day of finding them perfectly green and unblemished at the farmers market - there's none of that dreaded okra slime.
I loved this quick side dish -- the lemon was a brilliant addition, great contrast. It would be a great way for an okra neophyte to try okra for the first time.
HOW TO TRIM OKRA Cut off the tough stems but do leave a thin slice of the 'cap' which is tender and succulent and helps hold in the okra flavor and moisture.
MAKE IT A MEAL Pair the quick-cooking okra with a Quick Supper from Kitchen Parade, Greek Feta Chicken with Curried Rice. Yum!
FROM THE VEGETABLE RECIPE ARCHIVES See the Recipe Box for more okra recipes.
A YEAR AGO Broccoli & Tomato Thai Curry, "... a satisfying supper with just 3 Weight Watchers points. And if you're a carb watcher, substitute cauliflower for the potatoes to lower the carbs and keep a soft texture."
Time to table: 10 minutes
Serves 4
1 pound fresh okra, trimmed
1 tablespoon bacon grease or olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
Red pepper flakes
Salt to taste (big flakes of Maldon salt worked great, providing real 'hits' of saltiness without a whole lot of sodium)
Lemon wedges
Trim the okra. (If they've just been washed, let dry on paper towels while continuing to trim. They'll cook more quickly, more evenly, if they hit the hot oil dry.) About halfway through trimming, heat the oil on MEDIUM in a large skillet (large enough to hold all the okra in a single layer) til shimmery. Add the okra to the skillet and toss well to coat with fat. Let cook for about four minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute or two, until the garlic is cooked (but be careful not to burn). Season to taste and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
PRINT JUST A RECIPE! Now you can print a recipe without wasting ink and paper on the header and sidebar. Here's how.
NEVER MISS A RECIPE! For 'home delivery' of new recipes from A Veggie Venture, sign up here. Once you do, new recipes will be delivered, automatically, straight to your e-mail In Box.
Eat more vegetables! A Veggie Venture is the home of Veggie Evangelist Alanna Kellogg and is the award-winning source of free vegetable recipes, quick, easy, and yes, delicious. Start with the Alphabet of Vegetables or dive into all the Weight Watchers vegetable recipes or all the low carb vegetable recipes. © Copyright 2007


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How to Build a Strong Work Ethic
There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work. – Charles Spurgeon
If you've been stuck in a lazy rut lately, here are some suggestions to get yourself working productively.
- Accept that many results require hard work.
Remind yourself of the simple causality chain from decision to action to results. That middle phase is where most of the work is.
If you have no willingness to ever work your ass off, if you have such resistance to the very notion of pushing yourself, if you have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement that all the goodness of life should flow to you with effortless ease, that's great. You can read this article purely for entertainment purposes.
But if you're a more pragmatic realist, if you can recognize that many goals are too big and challenging just to attract and manifest out of thin air, if you can see that the whole point of tackling bigger goals is to develop yourself into a person of bold action, if you can accept that avoiding action altogether is a recipe for stagnation, and especially if you're tired of not getting the results you actually want and having to settle for less, then perhaps you can make this important leap and accept that some of your goals will require you to achieve them with hard work and lots of disciplined, focused action.
- Notice how self-discipline vs. laziness feels to you.
Notice that during those times when you actually do discipline yourself to take action, it often feels fantastic once you get past the first 15 minutes or so. Sure it's nice to enjoy the end result. But also remember what it feels like to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and get into the flow of action.
How did it feel to put in that extra hour? To go to work when you could have justified taking an extra day off? To put in the time to complete that optional creative project?
Sure it involved some sacrifice. But what did you give up? Extra TV time, a little web surfing, and some time lying flat on your back perhaps. What did you gain for your efforts? It wasn't just the end result. You grew stronger.
Inaction can be unforgiving. It kills your results. It drains your energy. It drains you of hope. Self-discipline pays you back with all of these results and more, including significantly greater happiness, fulfillment, and self-esteem.
- Embrace responsibility.
Recognize that no one is coming to rescue you. No one will force you into the flow of action. You must do this for yourself.
The lazy avoidance of responsibility isn't for you. You don't want stagnation. You want growth, and this requires action, movement, and change. This requires you to make some decisions and get going.
Don't confuse laziness with ease. In the long run, laziness yields only pointless difficulties and painful regret — and rightly so since you'll always know you could have avoided those difficulties if you'd really stepped up.
Don't put this burden of action on anyone else. It rests squarely on your shoulders, if for no other reason than because you're the one who ultimately has to shoulder the results.
- Start your day strongly.
A strong work ethic begins with a disciplined morning routine. Don't be caught lying on your back half-conscious, dragging yourself out of bed in a lazy half-start to your day.
When you wake up, get up. Get moving and get going. This will soon become a habit. If you aren't doing this naturally already, then respect the utility of a quality alarm clock. When your alarm sounds, pop out of bed and stand up first; then switch it off with your feet firmly on the ground.
If you can't wake up strongly in the morning, then fix your disgusting diet that's draining you of energy and motivation instead of fueling you powerfully.
Start each day with a strong morning, and the rest of the day will tend to follow. Move with power and purpose during that first hour. Own your mornings. Then maintain this attitude of mastery over your time as far into each day as possible.
- Exercise.
If the President of the USA can find time in his exceedingly busy schedule to exercise for 45 minutes each morning, you surely have time.
Exercising strongly will energize you. Your body is meant to move. Your brain especially suffers from a lack of exercise, leading to imbalances in hormones and neurotransmitters. Physical exercise is one of the brain's best rejuvenators. Don't allow your mind to be dragged down by a sluggish body.
If you have difficulty focusing your mind, start by focusing on your body.
When you exercise, make it challenging. Don't just do the same thing over and over. Mix it up. Push yourself. Make it intense. Give yourself not only a physical challenge but also a mental one. Embrace the terrific feeling of accomplishing something difficult each day, ideally in the morning. Kick off your day with a physical victory.
Exercise isn't just training for your body. It's training for your mind — and especially for your self-discipline.
- Tackle a real challenge before lunch.
Nobody can think straight who does not work. Idleness warps the mind. – Henry Ford
Kick off each workday with a mental challenge. Don't start with something light and cushy. Dive right into a challenging task that some part of you would rather avoid. Train yourself to embrace what's difficult instead of pushing it away.
When you avoid difficult tasks by pushing them later into your day, soon you'll justify bumping them into the next day… and then the next one… and then into next week… and then you'll realize this little postponement has somehow ballooned into months of procrastination.
To avoid a difficult task this moment is to condition the habit of postponing difficulties indefinitely. This is no way to claim the benefits that come from doing difficult work.
Don't resist difficult tasks. Embrace them as your daily resistance training.
- Get to it.
Determine never to be idle… It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. – Thomas Jefferson
Stop waffling. Stop talking about it. Go do it.
Taking action produces faster results than thinking about taking action. Many of the problems people discuss endlessly could be resolved with less than 10 minutes of direct action.
Repeatedly driving yourself to get into action creates flow and feels good. Thinking about doing (while not doing) will produce pile-ups of unnecessary obstacles.
- Act with good purpose.
When you work, work towards an end result that you desire. Don't spin in circles doing pointless busywork that won't lead you to your desired results.
Set your purpose straight. Then act in alignment with that purpose.
Plan each day in advance, ideally at the end of the previous workday. During this time, check back in with your mission. If you don't have a mission or if you don't have clear goals, then go read a book on clarity and fix that.
Plan your days in alignment with your long-term priorities. As you consider possible actions to take, ask yourself which ones will matter in a year. Load the bulk of your time with actions that you expect will produce long-term improvement.
- Condition disciplined habits.
Disciplined habits are those that make a difference in the long run. If a habit will do you little or no good to maintain it for the next five years, then why are you keeping it in your life?
Don't try to break bad habits. You can't replace a habit with a void. Instead, select better substitutes that you can condition in place of the old ones.
- Work first, then play.
The idle man does not know what it is to enjoy rest, for he has not earned it. – John Lubbock
Play is sweetest when it's earned. So is sleep. Earn your sleep each night by working hard on your goals during the day. Go to bed with the sweet smile of accomplishment still on your lips.
Take your rewards. Enjoy your life. But earn your rewards first.
Playing before you've earned your play time robs the play of much of its pleasure. If you love to play, then you'd better love to work.
When you rest or play, leave your work at work. Don't destroy the restorative value of non-work activities by bleeding half-work into them.
- Choose your peers with care.
A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he set out, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts and to second-rate friends.
Maintain high standards for your social circle. Keep yourself at arm's length from the lazy, the unproductive, and the negative minded. A weak social circle is a psychological prison.
Befriend and associate with the hard-working, ambitious, successful people of this world, and you'll soon count yourself among them.
- Don't use the Law of Attraction as an excuse for laziness.
Most of the LoA fans I know are great at manifesting — pennies.
Wishing for more from life is wonderful. Keep doing that. But recognize that your own hard, disciplined work efforts are often integral to the manifesting process.
The LoA works best when every fiber of your being is congruent with your desires. How congruent are you when you're sitting on your couch watching TV while intending more abundance to come into your life?
I'd say you look a lot more congruent when you work your ass off during the day taking actions that you believe will help you achieve your goal faster. But if you fritter away most of your days by sleeping in late, if you spend hours doing low value tasks that don't need to be done (and calling it research), and if you end most of your days with that sinking feeling that you could have done a lot better, that isn't manifesting. That's just being lazy.
If you want to become better at manifesting your desires, then step into the difficulties of making tough decisions. Accept the challenge of staying focused in a world of increasing distraction. See how far you can push your self-discipline. Explore fresh ways to create and share value with the world.
If you think you're good at manifesting, then manifest some focus, drive, and self-discipline, and you'll find that your ability to experience what you desire increases significantly. No more sitting on the sidelines hoping for changes that never arrive.
Manifest strength. Then use it. That's what you really desire. Don't waste your time on unworthy short-cut intentions that would only weaken you if you actually received them.
Wielding a strong work ethic is ultimately a matter of becoming an action-oriented person. Steer your self-development path in this direction. Decide that you'll grow into a person with a strong, powerful work ethic. The doing part will flow more easily if you can embrace the being part.
Can you allow yourself to become a hard worker? When someone asks if you have a strong work ethic, can you see yourself saying YES without hesitation?
Now go do something truly challenging for the next few hours.


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galex_glx2005-03r_img03 May 31st, 2005
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Galaxies aren't the only objects filling up the view of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. Since its launch in 2003, the space telescope -- originally designed to observe galaxies across the universe in ultraviolet light -- has discovered a festive sky blinking with flaring and erupting stars, as well as streaking asteroids, satellites and space debris. A group of six streaking objects -- the identities of which remain unknown -- can be seen here flying across the telescope's sight in this sped-up movie.
The two brightest objects appear to perform a sharp turn then travel in the reverse direction. This illusion is most likely the result of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer overtaking the objects as it orbits around Earth.
Careful inspection reveals four additional faint objects with the same timing and behavior. These faint objects are easiest to see during the retrograde portion of their paths. Three appear between the two bright sources, and one is above them, near the edge of the field of view.
These bonus objects are being collected in to public catalogues for other astronomers to study.
Provider: Galaxy Evolution Explorer
Image Source: http://www.galex.caltech.edu/media/glx2005-03r_img03.html
Curator: Galaxy Evolution Explorer
Detailed color mapping information coming soon...
Providers | Sign In


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I haven't really had the chance or time to play with PHP 5.3
until recently when Ubuntu 10.04
upgraded my local installations and kind of forced me to dive into it a little. And I'm also probably the last person on the planet to notice, but namespaces in PHP 5.3
allow you to monkey-patch core PHP code.
What's monkey patching?
So monkey patching is a technique to replace functions at runtime. One of the more common applications is stubbing (or mocking) code in unit tests. So for example mocking the response from a server allows you to run a unit test in absence of another external service. Thus making your test suite both more robust and possible bugs easier to squash.
Up until 5.3
monkey patching was not available in PHP — unless you used the runkit extension.
Other use cases are changing the behavior of code without directly forking it and maintaining a local copy, e.g. to add a feature or so or even to apply bug fixes without modifying the original code.
Here's some example code.
namespace monkeypatch;
$str = 'your mom';
echo "This should eight, but it's not: " . strlen($str) . "\n"; // 6
echo "Now this should be really eight: " . \strlen($str) . "\n";
function strlen($str) {
return 6;
The difference between strlen()
and \strlen()
is, that the first call uses the function we defined in the current namespace. Since using the namespace
operator requires it to be the first thing in a file, all consecutive functions and classes are part of this namespace. If an equivalent is not available in the current namespace, it'll fall back to the parent namespace or root.
Other applications that come to mind would be fixing the parameter order in strstr()
and in_array()
, and similar! But of course I'm kidding and wouldn't suggest that really. :-)
That's all kids!


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This program can be used to verify syscall numbers on a biarch platform for rule optimization. For example, suppose you had an auditctl rule:
-a always, exit -S open -F exit=-EPERM -k fail-open
If you wanted to verify that both 32 and 64 bit programs would be audited, run "ausyscall i386 open" and then "ausyscall x86_64 open". Look at the returned numbers. If they are different, you will have to write two auditctl rules to get complete coverage.
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S open -F exit=-EPERM -k fail-open -a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open -F exit=-EPERM -k fail-open
For more information about a specific syscall, use the man program and pass the number 2 as an argument to make sure that you get the syscall information rather than a shell script program or glibc function call of the same name. For example, if you wanted to learn about the open syscall, type: man 2 open.


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Sinéad O'Connor
"All this bloody Catholic child molestation in the world, and all you care about is me being bald?"
Sinéad O'Connor, (8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was a popular yet peculiar and rare Irish singer-songwriter, a Rastafari adherent and later a baldist.
Born in the bonnie bonnie land of wee fairies and angry anarchists, O'Connor came to the fore early in the 1980s with the rolicking ballad Smish te Cat'hloc Cherch, Jah, and became known for her act of tearing up a picture of the Pope for covering up - thus actually encouraging - child molestation, and for giving a handjob to his Chief of Staff, Fadda Murphy.
Sinéad O'Connor was the founder and pioneer of the "Bald-Headed Hot Chicks" fashion movement, which later included Demi Moore, Sigourney Weaver, Natalie Portman, Britney Spears, and that dead chick from the first Star Trek movie. However, because she came before the big wave of hot bald chicks, no guys at the time thought she was hot.
O'Connor is noted as the first white singer to adopt the black music technique of substituting numbers for words in her songs, using "2" to replace "to", pre-dating Vanilla Ice by six years and Eminem by at least a decade.
In the years following her balding, Sinéad became a leading member of the furry movement (because it's fun to pretend you're a member of a different species!). Her favorite furry outfit, and favorite skin to have furry sex in, was her homemade Red Panda uniform.
O'Connor's recent social life remains a mystery, for as shadow-Emperor of the U.S. her security has increased and her tendency to aggravate others has decreased. But there have been quite a few recent Red Panda sightings in the backrooms of the United Nations, the Hague, and Buckingham Palace.
Stage 1: "Hate Da Pope, Jah"[edit]
Sometime in the 1990s, Sinéad appeared on Saturday Night Live and tore up a picture of Pope John Paul 2.0in an effort to express her disgust. At first, everyone thought this was all just another part of the act. However, they realized it wasn't an act when she did an accapella version of 2 Live Krew's "I Hate Da Pope, Jah", and was either booed off the stage by detractors or carried off the stage on the shoulders of admirers. Saturday Night Live tried to entice her back later in the show for the skit "The Sinead O'Connor Happy Shamrock Funtime Hour", but she was booed off after five seconds by the unfortunate coincidence of Saturday Night Live handing out free tickets to a half-starved pack of nuns. This skit was later hailed as the best Saturday Night Live moment of the 1990s, even better than the cowbell guy and Celebrity Jeopardy.
Stage 2, "Hate Da Pope Sumore, Praise Jah"[edit]
Now was Sinéad's moment, and she began to give more and more tearful and emotional interviews to music magazines and entertainment shows, spilling out all the sordid and repulsive details of her past, her sexual abuse at the hands of the Pope, how she had felt like a child prostitute, and how the Catholic Church hated women and abused them. But most of all, don't get her started about the priests pronging or rubbing those little boys.
Finally retired[edit]
In 2002 O'Connor had had it with everybody, fed up with everything, just plain tired of it all. She retired for good, to raise her children in peace.
Return from retirement[edit]
Tiring of sitting around taking care of her children, O'Connor smoked a spiff and decided to come right back out of retirement. She immediately picked up a microphone one of her children was playing with and recorded her CD, I'll Rip Off Your Arms, Jah!. This inspired CD proved that she had transformed into a Rastafari Goddess. Her new incarnation, finally pretty cool according to some Illumanati, had been foretold by many ancient manuscripts and cave-etchings.
Sinead O'Connor was back, bigger and badder than ever. Jah. She won new awards and all seemed set for a grand return. But then her son died.
Sinead O'Connor died in July 2023. Irish eyes were streaming at the news. A week of national mourning was decreed by the Dublin government. Even the Vatican noticed her death. Sinead has now walked into the mists of myth and legend from now on.
See Also[edit]


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Farmers are the stewards of the land; sadly, politics often dictate how they farm. In the coming days, Congress will make decisions on funding priorities for 2012, and dramatic cuts to soil conservation programs are being proposed.
We cannot afford to let this happen. Our nation's ability to produce adequate healthy food, and to protect vital air and water resources, depend on how we treat the soil. Cutting soil conservation programs now will have devastating consequences long into the future. Call your Congressmember today and let them know healthy soil is well worth the modest investment.
From soil ecology to social justice
Since childhood in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, I've been fascinated with soil. What's not to like? Everything terrestrial grows in it, and clearly some soils are much more productive, alive, and healthy than others. Motivated by U.S. farmworker struggles of the 1980s and a desire to put these two interests together, I migrated to graduate work in agricultural ecology.
I spent nearly 10 years in Costa Rica conducting research in soil ecology. This beautiful country is like many others in the developing world, where peasant farmers are relegated to marginal, highly erodible lands to eek out a living.
In the 1930s, soil erosion was considered 'a menace to national welfare'.
The challenges of soil conservation are no less important here at home. The dustbowl disaster of the 1920s and 30s led to establishment of the Soil Conservation Service (predecessor to the Natural Resources Conservation Service) to address the recognition that "soil erosion was a menace to the national welfare."
Fast forward to soil conservation success stories of the 1980s and 90s. Russ Zenner of Idaho farms 3,300 acres of diverse crops, using a range of innovative techniques to keep his soil healthy. Russ explains: "My view is the more [crop] residue we leave in the field, the faster we improve soil quality." Regarding environmental benefits he adds, "I'm talking about water quality, sedimentation, nutrient management…. In the long run, I don't think we will have much choice — we will have to make this work."
Soil health falling victim to politics
Yet now the conservation programs — and the farmers who implement them — are falling victim to politics and pricing wars. Farmers are pressured to clear ever-increasing areas, often marginal erosion-prone land, to plant row crops such as corn (grown primarily for animal feed, processed foods and biofuels).
As described recently in the New York Times, the environmental situation on many U.S. farms does not look good: reduced crop yields and sediment-laden water contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers (the latter responsible for the vast oxygen-depleted "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico). On top of all this, the impacts of soil erosion are expected to get even worse with the severe weather events associated with climate change.
Severe weather associated with climate change is expected to intensify the impacts of soil erosion.
Instead of acting to mitigate this ecological disaster-in-progress, Congress voted in mid April to cut $500 million from the remaining 2011 budget of programs that help farmers conserve natural resources. The budget outlook for 2012 is even more grim.
The President's 2012 budget proposes an immediate $1 billion cut, and sets the stage for permanent cuts of $5 billion to conservation programs in the 2012 Farm Bill. Programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and Wetlands Reserve Program will take huge hits.
Your call to Congress is important
Congress is about to make decisions on fiscal year 2012 funding priorities. Your Senators and Representative need to know you care about programs that support healthy soil. Our partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Campaign outline the dangers of the pending cuts well:
These are false budget savings that endanger the nation's soil and water as well as our future capacity to produce adequate supplies of healthy food. These resources form the very foundation of our rural economies.
Calling is easy. To find contact information for your Senators and Congressman go to Congress.org and type in your zip code. Click on the legislator's name and then on the contact tab. You can also call the capital switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to their office. Ask for her/his aide responsible for agricultural appropriations. If the aide is unavailable leave a voice mail or a message with the receptionist.
The message is simple: Do not cut funds authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill for conservation on farms and ranches. We can't afford any more cuts to agricultural conservation programs. The long-term costs of unsustainable soil erosion to our economy far outweigh any immediate savings from cutting our modest investments in conservation.
Even if you haven't been fascinated with soil since childhood like me, it's worth taking a stand for. The truth is, we really can't live without it.


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Lou Zucaro – Realtor – Broker with Baird & Warner
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Show All Answers
Community Cats, also called feral cats, are members of the domestic cat species that are usually not socialized to people and therefore not adoptable to live in homes. Coralville City Ordinance defines a "Community Cat" as a cat that is not owned, has been assessed by a veterinarian, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and has been ear clipped.
Community Cats are not owned by any person or organization. Also, Community Cats are neither owned by the City, nor a liability of the City. City ordinance allows residents to trap Community Cats, have them spayed or neutered, and then release them to where they were found. The approach is commonly known as trap-neuter-return, or TNR. Community Cats are sometimes provided continuing care by public volunteers.
An ear notch or a missing ear tip on a cat is what identifies a Community Cat that has been spayed or neutered. It also lets officers know that the cat is not an owned pet. "Ear-tipping" is performed by a veterinarian while a cat is under anesthesia for spay or neuter surgery.
No. All pets, regardless of age, must be leashed at all times unless they are confined within the owner's property. Animals found to be at large, other than those deemed to be a Community Cat, can be impounded and the owner can be cited for having an animal at large.
Pet cats that are allowed to roam away from the owner's property are considered "at large" and may be impounded. Community Cats that create a nuisance as outlined in Ordinance 55.10 as determined by the Chief of Police or designee, may be captured and impounded. If you need help with a nuisance feral cat, or cat at large, contact Animal Control at 319.248.1800.
The City ordinance allows residents to trap feral cats, have them spayed or neutered, and then release them to where they were found. The City will not be responsible for catching or returning Community Cats. A feral cat may be returned to the community if determines no one else owns it, it has been deemed healthy, and if it has been ear-tipped, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. For more information, visit https://iowahumanealliance.org.


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Bear McCreary performing Battlestar Galactica music in California
Music News | May 28th, 2009
Battlestar Galactica and Caprica composer Bear McCreary will have a busy summer, with the release of two soundtrack recordings and concert performances. On June 13 the music from Battlestar Galactica will kick-off the 2009 Grand Performances Series at California Plaza. Three days later, on June 16, La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica.
Bear McCreary will again conduct the music from Battlestar Galactica for three nights at the House of Blues in San Diego from July 23-25th – during Comic Con! The concerts will celebrate the July 21 release of a special 2-CD set, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.
Battlestar Galactica began as an original SCI FI Channel mini-series in 2003. Billions of human lives were consumed by nuclear fires as the Cylons, intelligent robots created by man, rebelled against their makers. A small, rag-tag fleet of survivors escaped and fled into the outer reaches of the universe in search of the mythical, lost "13th colony" — Earth.
The SCI FI series celebrated its finale in March of 2009, having received boundless critical acclaim and awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award as well as special recognition from the United Nations. A few weeks later, the prequel Caprica, set 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, was released on DVD by Universal Home Entertainment. Caprica will begin airing in early 2010 on the SCI FI Channel. The series chronicles an astonishing scientific breakthrough taking shape on the planet Caprica. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) duel in an era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.
On June 16, 2009 La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica, composed by Bear McCreary, one of the top young composers working in Hollywood. His work on the television series Battlestar Galactica has been described as offering "some of the most innovative music on TV today," by Variety, and his blog www.bearmccreary.com/blog, which features in-depth inside looks at the process of scoring Battlestar Galactica, was called "one of the best blogs in the business. It's a fascinating look at the process of making music for film and television and the care he takes with aligning the score with the twists and turns of each character's plot lines," by The Hollywood Reporter.
Bear McCreary's feature film credits include Wrong Turn 2 and the Rest Stop films. He also scores the series Eureka and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and will be scoring the upcoming SCI FI series Caprica and the Capcom video game Dark Void. McCreary was among a handful of select protégés of late film music legend Elmer Bernstein and is a classically trained composer with degrees in Composition and Recording Arts from the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music.
In 2005 La-La Land Records released the soundtrack for Battlestar Galatica: Season One, which quickly became the top selling release by the label. One year later, the second season was released and was celebrated with Bear McCreary's first sold-out concert performance in Los Angeles. In 2008 the concerts moved to a larger venue selling out two nights at the famed Roxy on the Sunset Strip. The two-CD Season Four soundtrack will be released on July 21st. The first disc features music from seasons 4.0 and 4.5, with the music from "Daybreak", the stunning series finale, featured on the second disc.
The Caprica original soundtrack will be available in stores or from www.lalalandrecords.com on June 16, 2009. Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 will be available on July 21st.
The Music of Battlestar Galactica Performances:
Grand Performances 2009 Summer Series at California Plaza
June 13, 2009 at 7PM, Downtown Los Angeles
Free concert
Comic Con
The House of Blues San Diego (1055 Fifth Avenue)
July 23, 24 and 25
Ticket information visit www.bearmccreary.com/blog


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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A work-related situation that started last month takes on increasing importance this week. The choice is still yours as to how it will evolve. Be careful not to make quick judgments.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) "Careful" is the watchword for the prudent Bovine this week. Don't let your emotions overwhelm your logic. Try for balance as you maneuver through a touchy situation.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your energy levels rise to meet the challenges that will mark much of this month. New opportunities beckon. Look them over, but proceed cautiously before making any kind of decision.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your private life can be a problem this week, as a partner becomes more difficult. Resist a reaction you might regret. Instead of walking away, try to talk things out.
LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You should be your usual sunny self these days, as you bask in the admiration you adore. Enjoy it as you move into a new arena to confront an exciting upcoming challenge.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Your perseverance reserves will be tapped frequently this week as you deal with the problems involved in making a new situation work for you. But it'll all be worth it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) You'll find fewer roadblocks turning up as you continue to move ahead with your plans. Expect some important news to come your way by mid-November.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Good news — you finally get to the bottom of that pesky mystery you've been trying to solve for weeks by using some gentle persuasion to get someone to break his or her silence.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) The best time to take on that important task is now. Move forward one step at a time so you can assess your progress and, if need be, change direction.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) The new opportunities you hoped to find this month are beginning to open up. Study them carefully to be sure you make the choice that's best for you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Turn a disappointment into a learning experience. Check out possible weaknesses in your approach and strengthen them. A loyal colleague offers good advice.
PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Your new situation offers opportunities to help you get the skills you'll need in order to stop swimming in circles and finally move straight toward your goals. Go for it.
BORN THIS WEEK: You have a sharp, logical mind and a quick intellect. You would make an excellent mystery writer.
Horoscopes for week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1
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